Weight Loss Goal

Monday, August 27, 2012

Eat, Live, Run

I've been reading Jenna Weber's blog, Eat, Live, Run, for several years now -- so I have been waiting with baited breath for her book to release! I was THRILLED when the kind people at FSB Associates offered me an advanc copy in exchange for a review -- I recieved the book on a Monday, and I read it straight through in two sittings.

Much like her blog, Jenna is a very down-to-earth, focused, and un-pretentious writer. One of the things I've always loved about her blog (in addition to the fantastic recipes and beautiful food photographs), is that she doesn't pretend to be anything she isn't. She is beautifully self-aware, humble, funny, has a great sense of humor, and generally seems like somebody I could hang out with over a hunk of cheese, a loaf of bread, and a bottle of wine and really enjoy myself. Lots of food / healthy living bloggers are super pretentious -- but Jenna is a self-proclaimed geek, a klutz covered in flour.

Maybe that's why I like her.

Anyway, I read her book quickly and took note of a few great recipes (see below for a Turkey Burger recipe I can't wait to try!). I related to her experiences away at school -- when I went away to school, I was absolutely miserable for the first few months. Called my mother sobbing on a semi-daily basis. It was the first time in my life I'd ever been unhappy and I didn't know how to deal with it. I loved that in the midst of all her sadness, she still found joy in little things, and ultimately figured out that school wasn't the right place for her.

However, to me, the best part of the book had nothing to do with food or cooking, and everything to do with "living" aspect of her blog's title. Jenna loses her beloved little brother to a tragic accident mid-way through the book -- a hinge moment that changes her life forever. I've read Jennas' blog since this actually happened, so I was there, just waiting for it to pop up in her writing -- I started crying the minute it happened in her book, and basically didn't stop for the next few chapters. Although it is a horrible thing to have happened (I cannnot imagine), it is this experience where Jenna's writing ability really comes alive. Always a sucker for some emotional words, I ate up every sentence of this chapter -- I really felt like she reached into her heart and spilled words onto the page.

I've always equated cooking with love -- to feed a person is the ultimate act of caring for them, and it is so clear in every recipe and every meal that Jenna truly cares about the people in her life. I can't wait to see what her next chapter brings!

Old Bay seasoning is the secret ingredient in these easy and healthy turkey burgers. I like to serve mine with melted cheddar or pepperjack cheese on top. The spicy sweet potato fries (baked of course!) complete the meal.

1 large sweet potato, peeled and sliced into matchstick-thin slices a

Sea salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

Cooking oil spray

½ pound lean ground turkey

1 egg, lightly beaten

½ teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 slices cheddar or pepperjack cheese (optional but delicious)

2 hamburger buns, toasted (preferably whole wheat)

Ketchup or hot sauce

Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a cookie sheet.

Arrange the sweet potato slices in one layer on the sheet and sprinkle with sea salt and cayenne. Spray fries with vegetable oil spray and bake for 30 minutes, turning each fry over midway through baking.

In a large bowl, combine the turkey, egg, salt, Old Bay seasoning, and bell pepper. Mix thoroughly either with your hands or with a spoon until everything comes together and is combined well. Form into two even patties.

Cook the burgers in a nonstick skillet over moderate heat until cooked through, about 7 minutes per side. Top each with a slice of cheese and cook two minutes longer, allowing the cheese to melt.

Remove from heat and serve on toasted buns, topped with desired accompaniments. Serve with hot sweet potato fries and plenty of ketchup and hot sauce.

The above is an excerpt from the book WhiteJacket Required: A Culinary Coming-of-Age Story by Jenna Weber. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Jenna Weber, author of White Jacket Required: A Culinary Coming-of-Age Story, is the author of the highly successful food blog Eat, Live, Run. In 2007, she attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, Florida. White Jacket Required is her first book. She lives in San Francisco, California. Go to www.eatliverun.com for an up-to-the-minute look at Weber's world of food.

For more information please visit http://www.eatliverun.com,and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter